Get Organized Wizardhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com
Tools & Resources for Getting OrganizedThu, 12 Sep 2019 09:59:47 +0000en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.3As a Disabled Person, How Can I Best Organize My Home for Waist-Height Access?https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/as-a-disabled-person-how-can-i-best-organize-my-home-for-waist-height-access/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/as-a-disabled-person-how-can-i-best-organize-my-home-for-waist-height-access/#respondThu, 12 Sep 2019 13:52:41 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51716Whether you need to use a wheelchair on a permanent basis to get around or are using a wheelchair temporarily while recovering from illness or injury, there are some changes you can make in your home to make it easier to get things done.

Wheelchair users will need to set up ramps to get in and out of the house, to be sure. They might need to install a lift if there are stairs leading to an upper-story bedroom. These are changes you make to the structure of the home. But you will also need to make arrangements for easier access to the everyday things you rely on. In particular, you will want to pay close attention to how you can best organize your home for waist-height access.

If organization hasn’t been your strong suit in the past, it’s time to practice organizing your dwelling so it’s more accommodating for your disability.

1. How To Organize Your Home to Reach Stuff More Easily

Tour your home to evaluate the level of clutter. When you break down the clutter on a room-by-room basis, the work will not seem so daunting. Then, it’s time to set up proper storage. This includes cabinets with waist-high shelving for easier access when sitting in your wheelchair. Add more shelves to the walls in rooms where you have the space.

Work in a home office? Use a shorter filing cabinet with two drawers instead of three so you can see them all from wheelchair-sitting height.

Install electrical outlets in a more convenient height, so you can readily plug things in and remove them from a seated position.

What about the kitchen? Designate cabinets and shelves closer to the floor for your most-used food items as well as cookware. Kitchen countertops usually are installed at 36 inches, but for waist-height access, install them at 28 inches to 34 inches from the floor height. Naturally, the kitchen sink (and bathroom sinks) need to be low enough so that you can access them while using your wheelchair too.

You might consider installing adjustable kitchen cabinets (electric powered) so that they are as easy for you to access when sitting as they are for any other members of your household who do not use a wheelchair.

2. Consider New Ways to Store Items

Think of your living room and all of the stuff that can get piled up until massive clutter ensues. Chances are, there is a lot of wasted space that you can put to good use. For example, don’t leave blankets rumpled up on the couch. Fold them nicely and keep on the back of the couch so they are easy to grab when needed but not taking up valuable space. This might be easier for you then having to get them from the top shelf of the hall closet.

Do you see board games and toys strewn about? A very practical solution involves using a hollow ottoman. The lid lifts up so you can store all these games and then it serves like a normal piece of furniture, giving you dual usage.

3. Extending Your Grasp

For the items that need to go on shelves or in cabinets that are higher up than your hands can reach, you can still access them with ease. All you need is a grabber device, which you control with your hand to pick up anything from a book or box to a piece of equipment or even food from the pantry.

4. Be Consistent

Once you have your home nicely organized, with room for everything you routinely reach for well within your grasp at waist-height, you’ll want to be consistent, going forward. Put things away in the same place and don’t allow yourself to get careless. Knowing where items are stored makes it faster and easier to get them when they are needed again, meaning you won’t be delayed in preparing a meal or getting ready to go outside.

5. Boost Organization for a Better Home Environment When Disabled

The more organized you can get with your home, especially to make items easily available from waist-height access, the more enjoyment you will get from your situation. No longer will you have to rely on others to obtain something nestled on a too-high shelf. What’s more, you will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that everything you want has its own place and that things are stowed away for easy access whenever you need them.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/as-a-disabled-person-how-can-i-best-organize-my-home-for-waist-height-access/feed/0ADD, Procrastinator, Overwhelmed, Overthinker, Depressed – Help Me Get Started Organizinghttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/add-procrastinator-overwhelmed-overthinker-depressed-help-me-get-started-organizing/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/add-procrastinator-overwhelmed-overthinker-depressed-help-me-get-started-organizing/#respondMon, 09 Sep 2019 13:52:37 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51711Getting started on organization can be difficult, and can be made even harder for someone who has depression or ADD. Even for those who don’t have mental health conditions, being a procrastinator or overthinking, or just feeling overwhelmed can make it feel like too much effort to get started on organization. Fortunately, it really is possible to organize life even with conditions or struggles that make it more difficult or complicated.

Here are some of the best ways for people with mental health issues and related concerns to start getting their life and their space organized.

1. Make a To-Do List

A list is the place where all organization starts. Even if someone is too depressed to do the things on the list, they can write them down. Procrastinator can make a “to do later” list, and those who are overwhelmed and overthinking things can jot down quick lists as they go from room to room and stop obvious issues. Lists are guidelines, and they can be revised and adjusted later.

Plus, a list is essential for those who have ADD, because they struggle with focus and may need to refer back to the list to remember what they wanted or needed to do. For anyone with mental health issues and related difficulties, there are very good reasons to make a list when they want to start getting organized.

2. Don’t Let the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good

Many people have heard the idea of “do it right, or not at all.” But what does “right” really mean? For those who have perfectionist tendencies, it could mean that nothing is really good enough. While it’s important to do things properly and to the best of one’s ability, that doesn’t mean it has to be perfect.

Everyone’s definition of that word may be a bit different. If things are cleaned up, organized, and safe, they are good enough. They don’t need color-coded folders, and they don’t need to be spotless. Get them done. Anyone can go back later and make adjustments if needed. But the key is to get started, and gain momentum toward getting organized.

3. Waiting for the “Right Time” Isn’t Right

The “right time” is now. That is the time to get started. There’s no point in waiting until things are “perfect,” because they will never be perfect. Procrastinator can often talk themselves out of doing something that can be put off, while those who are overwhelmed wonder how they will do one more thing and depressed people don’t see the point in doing anything at all. But anyone with mental health struggles must realize that the “right” time isn’t ever going to materialize. It is not about waiting for the right time. It’s about using the current time in the right way. Getting started will lead to continuing, in most cases.

4. Limit the Priority List — Because Some Things Can Wait

While it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to procrastinate, some things really can wait for another time. By prioritizing the list that was made earlier, it’s possible to do the things that are most important. The other things on the list shouldn’t be ignored, but they should be left for after the other, more important, things have been completed. By prioritizing the list, the issues that have to be taken care of will be more likely to be completed. If the other items need to wait because of feeling overwhelmed or too tired, or because time has run out that day, it won’t be as much of a problem.

5. Choose a Good Calendar or Planner for Scheduling

Without a good, visual representation for scheduling, it can be very hard to keep things moving in the right direction. Yes, it can be hard to start on anything when depression, ADD, or other issues are present. But people who suffer from these conditions can get and stay organized. It may take a little bit more time, but it’s well worth the effort. With a good calendar or planner, it’s much easier to make notes and adjustments, so the organizational tasks can get completed one by one and be checked off the list. The sense of satisfaction that comes with that can really improve mood and make a difference.

People are not defined by their illnesses or the struggles they have. Remember that people can do so much more than they think they can. With ADD, depression, or just a feeling of being overwhelmed, making a list and working through it can mean getting — and staying — organized. That can help reduce procrastination, and also help overthinkers realize that sometimes just doing is the right choice.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/add-procrastinator-overwhelmed-overthinker-depressed-help-me-get-started-organizing/feed/0How to Engage in “Me Time” Without Feeling Guiltyhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/how-to-engage-in-me-time-without-feeling-guilty/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/how-to-engage-in-me-time-without-feeling-guilty/#respondFri, 06 Sep 2019 13:54:56 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51706Being well-organised doesn’t mean that every moment of your day needs to be blocked off. Everyone needs some “me time”: time to relax, unwind, and think. If you don’t get enough time to yourself, you aren’t going to be as productive as you could be. But it’s also easy to feel guilty when you aren’t doing the things you need to do. How can you balance your personal time with your work time?

1. Designate “Me Time” on Your Schedule

Don’t just pull away from other things to get your “me time” in. Use a planner and make your “me time” as important as your other priority tasks. Your “me time” is self care. If you don’t take care of yourself, you aren’t going to be able to get other things done. Schedule things you enjoy, hobbies, or even just nothing at all. And make sure that you stick to that schedule.

2. Accept That Sometimes Delays Happen

Everything can’t always get done on time. There may be times when you find yourself falling behind: this is fine. Let yourself fall behind and give yourself some personal time. Re-centering and refocusing will bring you back more invigorated and ready to tackle any challenges. There’s no use getting upset over something that can no longer be done on time.

3. Practice Saying No

Not every emergency is your emergency. Practice saying no to people; you can’t be expected to be available every moment of every day. When you’re taking time for yourself, don’t answer your calls, and don’t check your email. You know how important it is to have quality time with kids: now it’s time to have some quality time with yourself.

4. Integrate Your “Me Time” Into Your Preparation

Every morning, you need to take a shower, brush your teeth, and otherwise prepare for the day. Think about your “me time” as the time you need to recharge and relax; a non-optional moment for mental hygiene. If you accept that your personal time is important for your well-being and effectiveness, it will get easier to engage in personal time without constantly worrying that you’re missing something else.

5. Get Away From It All

If you just can’t stop yourself from going back into the office, it may be time to get away from it all. A weekend trip somewhere else, or a distant cabin retreat, can help you unwind without the temptation to start working again. If you frequently work online, consider engaging in a “data detox.” Put an away message in your email inbox and turn your phone off.

6. Practice Proper Prioritization

Prioritize your tasks clearly so you know which ones can’t be put off and which ones can be. Finish your high priority tasks before your personal time, and then push off the tasks that aren’t that critical. This will help reassure you that nothing important is waiting on you, while still giving you the time to relax before you start tackling other projects.

7. It Can Be “We Time,” Too

Something as simple as meeting with a friend for lunch can help you refocus and reprioritise. If you’re constantly on the go, it’s likely that some of your social relationships are flagging. You can contact a friend you haven’t seen in a while to catch up. When others are around, it’s more difficult to get pulled back into work, and it’s easier to take your mind off work-related stressors.

8. Erase Those Bad Thoughts

If you start to feel guilty, lazy, or irresponsible, concentrate on something positive. You don’t want those negative thoughts coloring your experiences with personal time. Try to remain positive and enjoy your time alone, as it’s something that’s extremely important for mental health. Many people feel persistently guilty when they aren’t getting their work done, but taking care of yourself is more important. You can’t get your work done without you.

It’s not easy to say no to new responsibilities, whether they’re coming from your boss, your family, or your friends. But by saying no to extra work and treating personal time as a necessity, you can reduce your overall anxiety and improve your focus. The more time you spend pampering yourself, the more effective you’ll be at work and at home.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/09/how-to-engage-in-me-time-without-feeling-guilty/feed/0How to Use S.M.A.R.T. Goals Effectively so You Don’t Get Overwhelmedhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-use-s-m-a-r-t-goals-effectively-so-you-dont-get-overwhelmed/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-use-s-m-a-r-t-goals-effectively-so-you-dont-get-overwhelmed/#respondWed, 28 Aug 2019 05:30:49 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51677Do you have so much to do that at times you feel yourself getting overwhelmed? There’s no need to fret, because you can start using S.M.A.R.T goals in an effective manner to prepare yourself to finish tasks on time and stay organized.

Understanding S.M.A.R.T. Goals

To begin, you should know that S.M.A.R.T is an acronym. In S.M.A.R.T, the “S” is for “specific,” the “M” is for “measurable,” the “A” is for “achievable,” the “R” is for “relevant” and the “T” is for “time-bound.” The idea for S.M.A.R.T goals began when consultant George T. Doran wrote a paper titled “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives” in 1982.

How to Use S.M.A.R.T Goals to Organize or Set Goals

You can use S.M.A.R.T goals to get yourself organized at home or at work. Begin with “S” by listing specific goals, such as who is involved and what you want to accomplish. You can imagine how useful it is to detail when a project must be finished, where the work is to be done (the garage, a home office or the supplies room in your company, for example). For large and complex goals, it would be prudent to break them down into smaller sub-tasks, so they’ll be more manageable.

For “M” (measurable), you will write down the metrics you will use to verify whether you met the particular goal. For a lengthy project, consider establishing some milestones, such as what must happen at month 2 and at month 4.

The “A” for achievable indicates that this goal is something you can definitely accomplish and should inspire you to finish the job. When considering the “R” for relevant, you’ll be making sure that what you are working toward is relevant to your home or workplace needs and not a waste of time.

And for the “T” of timebound, you will want to set a reasonable timeframe to accomplish the S.M.A.R.T. goals. If you don’t allow sufficient time, your goal will be unrealistic. Think carefully about the time constraints before you commit to meeting this type of goal. Of course, sometimes, when time is of the essence, you can still meet your goal quickly if you bring on additional help.

Work Out and Write Down Your S.M.A.R.T Goals

The key to setting up actionable S.M.A.R.T goals is to write them all out, filling in the details as you go. After you have determined the main tasks at hand and have them in a list sorted by priority, it’s time to integrate them into your daily routine.

Many people find it beneficial to apply S.M.A.R.T goals to their calendar, whether hanging on the wall or accessible through the screen of a smartphone, laptop or desktop computer. You might have an app that you can use to program reminders to finish your S.M.A.R.T goals, and by when. The to-do list that you generate shows you at a glance what needs to be done, by whom and when.

A More Manageable and Efficient Journey to Organization

S.M.A.R.T goals will make your journey to organization more efficient and manageable. You’ll feel better when you use these goals to work out what’s most important to you at home or when on the job. And after you use S.M.A.R.T. goals for a while, they should become second nature and part of your normal routine.

A Cure for Feeling Overwhelmed

Anyone who has ever gotten stuck on a project or couldn’t even really get started due to overwhelming feelings will appreciate how S.M.A.R.T goals can help. If you do feel like it’s all too much, simply refer back to the S.M.A.R.T goals you wrote down and then know that you will get all your tasks done in time.

A Smart Way to Set and Achieve Goals and Stay Organized

It should be clearer now that writing down your S.M.A.R.T goals will be an ideal way to motivate you and keep your home or office organized. Establishing your goals in a check list, or adding them to your calendar or alarm app will go a long way to keeping your eyes on the prize of a clean and well organized space in which to work or live.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-use-s-m-a-r-t-goals-effectively-so-you-dont-get-overwhelmed/feed/0The Easiest and Quickest Way to Keep Things Clean and Organizedhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/the-easiest-and-quickest-way-to-keep-things-clean-and-organized/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/the-easiest-and-quickest-way-to-keep-things-clean-and-organized/#respondFri, 23 Aug 2019 03:24:35 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51676You’re a busy person with very limited free time on your hands, which often means that you find yourself struggling to stay organized and neat. However, lately you’ve been thinking that if you had a system in place to maintain your dwelling more easily, you would feel better but still get everything accomplished that needs to be done.

What you really need is to give yourself a push to get started on the path toward regularly cleaning your home. This includes making specific plans to organize your possessions so they don’t take over your life. The easiest and quickest way to keep things clean and organized is well within your grasp.

1. Decide to Start Now

If you don’t start cleaning and organizing your home now, then when will this happen? It’s crucial to focus on cleanliness now, once you’ve made up your mind to begin. Otherwise, you can see how easy it would be to procrastinate and put off this task.

Once people see how nice their home is after consistent cleaning and organizing, they wonder why they didn’t start sprucing up things much earlier. Just like a New Year’s Resolution, if you decide to start now, your chances of success will improve if you stick to your plan and stop making excuses.

2. Be Consistent With Organizing

Trying to organize your home in a slapdash manner will not get you the results you’re hoping for. Instead, strive for consistency. This means, for example, that if you are removing a stack of a month’s worth of magazine from the living room, you should also get rid of that pile of takeout menus on the living room coffee table.

If you use organizational tools, such as dividers for your kitchen cabinets and drawers, consider using similar items in your bathroom and home office. The point is, don’t let one room become a junk room where you stack up things that you don’t have a place to put.

3. Tidy up Regularly

Clutter will continue to mount the longer you leave your house untouched. So, it’s in your best interest to tidy up on a regular basis. This is easily accomplished by setting reminders for yourself, such as an alarm on your smartphone.

Multitasking may make this an easier task. When watching the news at night, you could neaten up the living room or put away stuff sitting out on the kitchen counter. If a friend calls, instead of just sitting on the couch, you could take the opportunity to tidy up while enjoying a distracting conversation.

4. Change Unorganized Habits

Clutter can start happening because you are not paying attention to your actions. You can switch from unorganized habits to a more proactive approach. Do you find yourself spending time with a hobby but then leaving things out instead of putting them away before bedtime? Where do you put your bills before you pay for them?

Make a habit of considering items that you routinely use or bring into your home and figure out a consistent way to deal with them. Hang your keys on a hook by the door instead of leaving them on the kitchen counter with a handful of change and some receipts.

5. Set a Household Routine for Cleaning and Organizing

Following a routine makes cleaning and organizing your household much easier. This can include writing up a chore chart and posting it in the family room for everyone to see. List the name of the task, when it should be done by and who is set to do it that week. Scrubbing the bathrooms every Saturday while doing laundry or dusting and vacuuming on Sundays will become habitual and your home will start to look nicer and more inviting as a result.

6. Don’t Let Setbacks Get In Your Way

If you’re just getting started organizing and keeping things cleaned on a regular basis, it’s natural for you to miss the schedule once in a while. Things happen, and you wind up forgetting to vacuum the carpet or you don’t dust one week. Everyone has been through such minor setbacks. The trick is to just pick up right again when you realize you’ve slackened on housework. You’ll be delighted at how much more pleasant it will be to live in a house that is nice and organized and kept sparkling clean.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/the-easiest-and-quickest-way-to-keep-things-clean-and-organized/feed/0How to Get Organized When You Have Health Issueshttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-get-organized-when-you-have-health-issues/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-get-organized-when-you-have-health-issues/#respondTue, 20 Aug 2019 12:27:01 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51675It’s easy for things to slip between the cracks when you are dealing with a major medical issue. Tasks such as keeping your home clean and organized on a regular basis can fall to the wayside if you have a health concern that demands more of your time and attention.

However, a cluttered home can cause you additional stress and make it harder for you to relax and recuperate. And if you are temporarily working from home while you recuperate, it’s all the more important to have a clean and organized space to finish your projects.

But if you’re already low on energy because of a health issue, you may need some advice on how to make the most of your time and effort. Slowly but surely, you can get control over your dwelling, organizing your house or at the very least, your home office.

1. Everything Should Have a Place

Consider all of the things in your home that you have to organize, and then make sure that you have a designated location for all of them. For example, where do you put items that you routinely use daily, such as your wallet, purse, briefcase, glasses and keys?

When mail arrives and you’re not ready to open it yet, place it in a box near your desk instead of tossing it on the table with your groceries when you get home. Quickly, you will be able to identify messes such as board games cluttering the living room that would easily fit in a hall closet or blankets on the couch that you can store inside an ottoman during the summer.

2. Remember It’s Okay to Ask for Help

It’s okay to ask for help. If you’re just getting started, ask your friend, spouse or other relative for assistance. Tell them your goals and what you specifically need help with. Your helpers can move heavy items for you, take you to a store to buy some shelves or boxes to store things and even set aside unwanted objects for donation.

If your budget allows at a time when no friends or relatives are available when you need assistance, consider hiring professionals to help you move items and store items as you organize all your possessions.

3. Start Small

It’s common for people to feel overwhelmed when faced with the daunting task of organizing an extremely cluttered or messy abode. This goes double when you are also dealing with health issues. The best approach in such situations is to start small. Any step that you take in getting organized will fuel the desire to keep going.

Dividing big organizational tasks into smaller to-do items will make the effort seem a lot less overwhelming, making it easier for you to get started.

4. Budget Your Time

Illness can sap a lot of your physical and mental energy. This is why people with health issues would do well to budget their time when it comes to organizing and cleaning. You should make a list of priorities for getting organized, to ensure that you will star with those tasks first.

5. Make Sure Your Medical Records Are Easy to Access

It’s true that many healthcare organizations are switching to a computerized system, with less printouts and paper-based patient charts to contend with. But patients typically still will have a variety of handwritten and printed documents to keep track of.

Whatever ailment you have, whether a chronic illness or an injury or surgery that you need to recover from, it’s of paramount importance that you have easy access to all of your healthcare information. This includes a list of current prescriptions, notes from visits to the doctor or other healthcare providers and any test results or other official medical records. You might store these documents in a filing cabinet or even a few boxes, depending on their size and the sheer amount of material.

There’s No Time Like Now to Get Organized, Even if You Have Health Concerns

Coping with health issues is hard enough on its own. But having to recuperate in a disorganized and messy home will tend to cause stress and anxiety, so the cleaner and more orderly you can get, the better you will feel. Just remember to ask people for help when you need it. Don’t stress yourself by working harder than your doctor recommends. If a task seems too big to take on, divide it into smaller, individual sub-tasks so the work will be more manageable.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-get-organized-when-you-have-health-issues/feed/0How to Focus on One Task at a Time and Get Things Donehttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-focus-on-one-task-at-a-time-and-get-things-done/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-focus-on-one-task-at-a-time-and-get-things-done/#respondFri, 16 Aug 2019 23:27:06 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51664Getting things done matters, but it’s not always easy. Sometimes, there’s simply so much to do that it feels completely impossible to accomplish everything. When that happens, you often end up jumping from task to task, trying to do a little bit if each thing until they’re all completed.

While there could potentially be scenarios where that would be a good idea, there aren’t too many of them. Instead, it’s much better to choose one thing at a time and get it done. Then you can move on to the next thing without having to backtrack to something you’ve already completed part of before.

Here’s how to get it all done, one thing at a time.

1. Start Out With a To Do List

If you aren’t sure what you need to get done, you’ll bounce around because you’ll keep thinking of new things to do. You might be doing laundry, and realize the bed isn’t made. When you make the bed, you see that the trashcan is full so you stop to take the trash out, etc.

That can lead to doing all sorts of little things that weren’t the things you intended to do at all. With a list, you can get the important things done. If you have time afterward you can always do more things, and if you find something else that needs done, you can add it to your list for later, tomorrow, or some other time. But the list itself is very important.

2. Set Priorities to Complete Your Tasks

What really matters to you, and when do those things have to be done? When you set priorities, you’re saying that one task is more important than another. There’s no “right” way to prioritize, because different things matter to different people.

Keep that in mind, and choose the tasks that are time-sensitive first. These are the things that really do need to get completed, and some of the other things can wait. The goal is to get everything on your list done, but if you can’t, you want to make sure the things left over aren’t priority tasks that had to be done that day.

3. Schedule Time for High Priorities First

The things that really need to get done in a day should be done first, if at all possible.

In some cases that might not work, because you could have an appointment related to a task that you can’t do anything about until later in the day. But the things that you can take care of on your own should always be done first, so you can get them completed and move onto the next thing.

If you leave high-priority tasks for late in the day, there’s a chance that they won’t all get done and you’ll be left frustrated and scrambling to complete them the next day. That’s no fun, and can put you behind on things that need to get done.

4. Do the Things You Like Least, First

If you have higher-priority tasks that you also don’t like to do, they should absolutely be done first. That way they’re done and over with, and you don’t have to worry about them anymore. If those tasks are lower priority but they don’t take long, and you really dislike them, you might also want to do them first, or at least early in the day, so you don’t have them hanging around later, when you might be getting tired.

Doing things you don’t enjoy isn’t fun, but it’s something you have to do sometimes. Get those tasks out of the way, and you can move on to something else.

5. Don’t Forget to Take Breaks

While getting things done is really important, you have to remember to take proper care of yourself. That means taking breaks, so you can get some rest and relaxation during the day. Even if you only take short breaks, those little moments that allow you to recharge are great ways to feel better and stay focused on getting things accomplished.

Small periods of rest can give you renewed energy and focus, so you want to keep working on the things on your list. You’ll get more done if you take those breaks, and if you do only one thing at a time. Bouncing around might seem productive, but making a list, prioritizing tasks, and knocking out those tasks you don’t like to do first can be a much better use of your time, effort, and energy.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-focus-on-one-task-at-a-time-and-get-things-done/feed/0How to Get Everything Done in Your “To Do” List and Still Have Some Time to Yourselfhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-get-everything-done-in-your-to-do-list-and-still-have-some-time-to-yourself/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-get-everything-done-in-your-to-do-list-and-still-have-some-time-to-yourself/#respondTue, 13 Aug 2019 23:27:00 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51653If you’re like a lot of people today, you always feel like you have too much to do. You probably also feel like you don’t have enough time to take care of everything on your “to do” list, much less have some time for yourself, as well. But there are ways to get more done faster, and still have the opportunity to do the things you want to do.

Here are some things to consider when you’re trying to decide how to tackle that list and incorporate enjoyable things that matter to you along the way. You really can have both productivity and enjoyment, if you organize things the right way.

1. It’s All About the Organization

Getting everything done and having time to relax really is about the organization of all the things that need to get done. If you manage your time and set proper goals, you’ll be able to complete the tasks that are important to you. By getting those things done quickly, you can turn your attention to the things you want to do, instead.

That way you get time for yourself, and the important things in life still get accomplished, as well. You need “me” time, so you can be your best self and be ready to face the day. Downtime can actually help you accomplish things more easily, as well as more quickly.

2. Set Priorities to Accomplish More

It’s simply not possible to do everything at once. While you might feel like you need to, so things can get completed, you’ll have to slow down and take a careful look at what’s going to be more important to you. By deciding on the truly important things, and prioritizing them, you can get them done when they really need to be.

Then the things that aren’t as important can be completed at a later date, over time. You’ll still get everything done, but it doesn’t all have to be done today. Not all tasks are priorities, and it’s important to know the difference.

3. Put Downtime in Your Schedule

Taking time for yourself, to do the kinds of things you want to do, should be something you schedule. Even if you’re busy, your time is precious and valuable. Make sure you’re taking some of it just for you, and the kinds of things that matter to you. Time to recharge is highly important, especially for people who have stressful jobs and busy lives that they might want to get away from now and then.

4. Visual Goals Can Keep You on Track

By using an app, a calendar, a white board, or some other method of visualizing your goals and your “to do” list, you can see what’s getting done, what matters, and what really doesn’t. That’s a great way to focus on what’s being completed, what’s coming up, and what isn’t going to get done the way you’d hoped.

You might have to make adjustments and move deadlines, but there’s nothing wrong with doing that for most tasks. There are very few things that absolutely have to be done at a certain time or on a certain day.

5. Be Reasonable With What You Can Accomplish

People get caught up in doing “all the things.” It’s nice to see how much you can get done, and it definitely gives you a sense of accomplishment. But you have to be fair and realistic about how much you can actually complete in a certain period of time. If you try to do too much, you risk getting overwhelmed and burned out.

That could lead to you actually getting less done, and still not getting any time for yourself. Schedule honestly, and be open to making changes as needed.

6. Let Time to Yourself Matter the Way it Should

No matter what kind of job you have or how busy your life is, you’ll probably have people telling you that you’re not doing enough. You might also find that people frown on taking downtime or doing something for yourself.

But self-care is not selfish.

In fact, it’s very important and a great way to keep you interested and engaged in your life. Because of that, you’ll want to focus on your value, and let yourself matter. You have a lot to offer to others, and you’ll do that in the best possible way when you’re well-rested and feeling like you’ve had some time for the things that matter to you.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-get-everything-done-in-your-to-do-list-and-still-have-some-time-to-yourself/feed/0How to Organize Social Media Viewing and Stop Wasting Timehttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-organize-social-media-viewing-and-stop-wasting-time/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-organize-social-media-viewing-and-stop-wasting-time/#commentsFri, 09 Aug 2019 21:00:55 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51649Social media can be really interesting, and it’s also a great way to keep people connected to one another. But if you spend too much time viewing it you’ll actually waste a lot of time you could be using to do other things that might be more important or valuable to you in a lot of ways.

Friendships, spending time with family, getting work done, and more can all be accomplished when you don’t spend all your time on social media. Here’s how to organize your social media viewing, so you can still enjoy it but you’ll also have plenty of time to get other things done.

1. Take an Honest Look at Your Priorities and What You Need to Do

You might not have a lot going on in your life, or you might be extremely busy. Either way, you still have things you want to do. That means using your time wisely, which isn’t easy to do if you’re spending all your time on social media. It’s not always wasted time, because you can learn a lot off of social media and you can also interact with other people and develop friendships and work connections. But much of the time a person spends on social media is wasted, because they just scroll aimlessly and read things that don’t bring value to their lives.

Are you doing this? If you are, it’s time you looked at what you value, instead.

2. Try Out Different Ideas and Options to Find What Works for You

Not all social media viewing plans or ideas work for every person. Some people only check it once per day. Others check it more often. Some people stop and check whenever they want to, but they don’t spend a lot of time looking at social media each time they check.

There are a number of options to consider, and you have to figure out what works for you. Try some different ideas, and be honest with yourself about how well they work for you. The option that’s good for you shouldn’t be too stressful, but it should help you organize your social media viewing and waste less time.

3. Take Note of How Many Times You Check Social Media Each Day

To really hold yourself accountable, and to determine what you need to do in order to reduce your social media viewing, you’ll need to take note of how many times a day you’re checking social media.

Whether it’s pulling up Facebook on your internet browser or scrolling through Twitter on your phone, it’s something that’s causing you to waste a lot of time you could be using for something else. You’ll probably be surprised at the number of times you look at social media each day, if you’re really honest with yourself and don’t try to avoid checking it because you’re keeping track.

4. Use a Planner or Calendar to Block Out Time for Specific Tasks

When you use a planner or a calendar, you can see all your tasks for the day. If you want social media to be a part of that, you can block out time to check it. For example, you might take 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening to scroll through and catch up.

If that doesn’t work for you, looking at your social media for half an hour around lunchtime could be a better choice. No matter which you choose, though, block that time out on your calendar or in your planner, and then stick to it. Only look at your social media during that time, so you don’t waste time.

5. Use a Browser Tool to Blacklist Certain Sites During Specified Times

For people who really have trouble staying off of social media, there are browser tools and phone apps that can be used to blacklist specific sites during certain hours. That might be a good option for you, at least until you get more comfortable with only checking your social media sites during set times.

If you simply can’t keep yourself from looking at social media, having the sites blacklisted or blocked will stop you from seeing them. Then you won’t get a choice, and you’ll have to do something else.

It’s a good way to make sure you put your phone down and get your work done, or stay off the internet and accomplish the rest of your tasks on your “To Do” list.

Over time, you probably won’t need the blocking anymore, since you’ll be used to staying off social media.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-organize-social-media-viewing-and-stop-wasting-time/feed/1How to Stop Researching About Getting Organized and Start Taking Actionhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-stop-researching-about-getting-organized-and-start-taking-action/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-stop-researching-about-getting-organized-and-start-taking-action/#respondTue, 06 Aug 2019 23:26:59 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51644If you want to get organized and get things done, the first thing you’re going to do is start researching how to get organized. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s all too easy to get stuck in the research and never really do anything.

You don’t want that to happen.

Too much research will actually become confusing, because you’ll start to get conflicting information that you’re not sure what to do with. Then you’ll look for more information so you can be sure about what you’re reading, and that will lead to distraction.

Instead of dealing with all of that, here’s how to get organized and take action.

1. Set a Timeline When Research Stops and Work Begins

It’s good to be thorough, but at some point the research has to stop. You probably won’t learn anything new, or anything that really, completely contradicts what you’ve already discovered. If you’ve looked at the pros and cons of different options already, that’s all you need to do.

Now it’s time to get things done. Setting a timeline can help. You might decide that you’ll do two hours of thorough research, or that you’ll look at new articles for a week. There’s no right or wrong answer. The important thing is to set a firm deadline that’s realistic, and stick with it.

2. Strategize Based on What Works for Your Needs

Organizing isn’t just about having things look nice and neat. It’s also about making sure you can find everything you need when you need it. Take a careful look at what you’re organizing. Get rid of anything you don’t actually want or need to keep. Then consider how — and how often — you use the things you’re keeping and planning to organize.

If you aren’t sure what you really need based on all the research you’ve done, let how you use things and the frequency of needing access to those things be your guide. You can’t really go wrong when you’re doing what works for your needs and goals.

3. Stay Away from New Ideas While You’re Organizing

Even if you have new thoughts or questions, stay away from stopping your organizational efforts to look up new ideas. If you’ve done thorough research, you really don’t need to find anything else. You already know what you’re doing, and you need to trust yourself and the process of organization you’ve undertaken.

Don’t let indecision or concern over whether you’re doing things the right way cloud your judgment. Too many ideas only adds to confusion, and one of the reasons you’re organizing everything is to reduce confusion, chaos, and clutter. You don’t want to add to it with more ideas.

4. Gather Some Main Tips, and Start Using Them

When you look through all the blogs and other good sources of information, and you’re ready to start organizing, take the main tips you’ve found through all your research. There are some basics that are common among most people when they write about organization ideas. Those tips are the ones you want to look for, because they’re the basis of everything you’ll be doing as you get started.

You don’t have to take every tip you read about to heart, though. That’s especially true if a particular tip just doesn’t work for you, or if it contradicts something that really does work well for your style of organizing and your plans.

5. Be Open to Adjusting (Without Research)

Sometimes you get involved with organization, and you find that not everything is working the way it should or the way you expect it to. You should always be open to making adjustments if you need to. Just make sure you aren’t stopping to do a bunch more research to find out what to do next. With the research you’ve already done, you should know what to do if something you try doesn’t work well. There are plenty of other options, and a lot of ways you can adjust what you’re doing so it’s better suited for your needs.

The most important thing to remember is that too much analysis causes paralysis. If you spend all your time researching how to get organized, you’ll never stop to actually organize the spaces in your house that need it. By setting a timeline and moving forward after that point, you’ll be much more likely to get things done and be happy with the organization you have. There might be other tips or ideas, but you won’t need them to be satisfied.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-stop-researching-about-getting-organized-and-start-taking-action/feed/0How to Help My Friend/Spouse/Child See the Value in Goal Planninghttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-help-my-friend-spouse-child-see-the-value-in-goal-planning/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-help-my-friend-spouse-child-see-the-value-in-goal-planning/#respondSat, 03 Aug 2019 23:24:29 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51639There are many important reasons to plan for the goals that are valuable to you. But helping another person see the value in goal planning can be more difficult.

When you want a friend, spouse, or child to see why they should goal plan, the best way you can help them is to lead by example. If they see you doing goal planning on a regular basis, they will realize the value it has for you. That can encourage them to plan for their own goals, as well.

People need to see the benefits of planning for their goals, in order to encourage them to do so. Here are some of the ways you can help them.

1. Understanding the Benefits of Goal Planning

To help someone else with goal planning, you first need to understand the benefits for yourself. Planning can help you move toward something important, and help you reach goals you might not have met otherwise. Additionally, goal planning can show you that the dreams you have can come true, with hard work and persistence.

When you realize and internalize the value of these benefits, you can share the importance of that value with other people. That helps others understand why goal planning can be right for them, because they’ll see that they can benefit from it, as well.

2. Has Someone Asked for Goal Planning Help?

If your child, spouse, or friend has asked for goal planning help, that’s good news. It’s a way to help them that they’ve actually asked for, so they won’t be bothered by you offering to assist them. Not everyone wants help with certain aspects of their lives, so it can be hard to know if you should offer.

When someone you care about has asked for help, though, you no longer have to worry about offering your advice and guidance. Try not to overwhelm them with information, but feel free to start sharing your knowledge of goal planning with them so they can choose what’s going to work for them.

3. Can You See How Goal Planning Would Benefit Someone?

Even if your loved one hasn’t asked you for help with goal planning, you might be able to see how it would really benefit them. If that’s the case, try asking if they’re interested in it. You can also show them what you’re doing with your own goal planning, and see how they react to it. If they’re interested in what you’re doing, there’s a good change they’d be interested in learning how it could help them, as well.

People usually want to do better, and they want to get things together and start reaching their goals and seeing their dreams come true. You have an opportunity to show them how they can do that.

4. Everyone Plans and Organizes Differently

When you start helping your spouse, child, or friend with their goal planning, keep in mind that you have to respect the way they do things. Their goals may be very different from yours, and the way they plan and organize will also be different. If you try to get them to do things only the way you do them, you might end up with a lot of frustration and conflict.

The idea is to show them how they can goal plan and why there’s so much value in it. That doesn’t mean telling someone exactly how they have to do it, because there are always many different ways to plan for the goals that are important to a person.

5. Practical Steps Can Help You Approach Goal Planning

No matter how much someone wants to learn about goal planning, they might not know where to start. But there are practical steps you can take to help anyone learn about planning for their goals. Talk with them about writing down their goals, and being specific and realistic with what they want to accomplish.

Once they’ve done that, they can start working on a timeline for completing and reaching those goals. It’s often a good idea to work backward from the goal they want to meet to where they are now. That can show them how to take the right steps toward reaching that goal.

Not only can proper goal planning help your loved ones meet the goals that matter to them, it can also give them a sense of purpose and a belief that they can accomplish much more than they might have thought possible. That’s a great gift to give to someone you care about.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/how-to-help-my-friend-spouse-child-see-the-value-in-goal-planning/feed/0The Best Ways To Keep Paper Clutter From Building Uphttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/the-best-ways-to-keep-paper-clutter-from-building-up/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/the-best-ways-to-keep-paper-clutter-from-building-up/#commentsThu, 01 Aug 2019 07:30:46 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51543Whether it’s at a home or a business, it’s very easy for paper clutter to build up and become a problem. Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with all that paper if you don’t want to. There are some great ways for you to focus on getting that clutter under control, so you can have a neat, clean space.

It’s not just about the look of paper clutter, either. It’s also about finding things when you need to and not having important documents lost in piles of papers that don’t really matter to you. Here are some of the best tips to keep paper from piling up and turning into clutter.

1. Make Time to Reduce the Clutter You Already Have

If you already have a lot of paper clutter, the first thing you’ll want to do is work at reducing it. The best way to do that is to carefully go through your home and gather all the paper into one place. Then you can sort and divide it into piles — one for recycling/trash (like random paperwork you don’t need for anything), one for shredding (such as anything with sensitive information on it), and one for keeping (like vehicle titles, birth certificates, etc.).

Once everything’s divided, take the time to recycle or throw away that pile, and shred the pile with sensitive info in it. You don’t have to own a shredder, either. There are many places that will shred documents for you free of charge or for a very small fee. It’s well worth that, for the peace of mind it brings.

2. Invest in a Good Filing Cabinet or Similar System

Now that all you have is the pile you really want to keep, you need a great way to store the papers in that pile. That way you won’t have clutter, and you’ll also be able to find things when you need to. If you have (and will continue to accumulate) a lot of paper, you might want to purchase a full-size file cabinet.

You can also opt for a smaller cabinet, or a different type of filing system if you don’t have nearly as much paper to store. The right filing system is the one that works for you, but if you’re looking to reduce clutter you’ll want to choose a small option and reduce the paperwork you have even further. There are ways to do that.

3. Categorize and File All the Paper You Need to Keep

For papers you’ll definitely want to keep, like certified copies of any legal proceedings, titles to your vehicles, the deed to your home, and other items, you’ll want categories. That way you not only know where all the important papers are, but you know which file or folder to look in to find something specific.

You might have all the house information in one folder, a folder for each vehicle (title, insurance, etc.), and a folder for your health insurance. Naturally, the folders you choose will have to be up to you and the kinds of papers you’re storing. Having a folder for each specific thing can make finding papers much easier.

4. Go Digital With Everything You Can, to Reduce Paper

For a lot of the paperwork you used to get (bills, bank statements, credit card statements, etc.), consider going digital. You might also want to consider this option for paperwork you already have and aren’t sure what to do with. If you have 10 years of bank statements, for example, you probably don’t need to keep them all. But if you still want to keep them, you can invest in a scanner and digitize them all. Then you can get rid of the paper, but still have the statements.

It can take some time to go through all the paper you have and make it digital, but it’s well worth the effort. Additionally, it takes time to go to each company you get paper statements from and have them start sending you digital statements. But that time is well-spent when you can reduce your paper clutter significantly and keep new paperwork from coming in and creating clutter in your home or office.

Organizing what you have and need to keep, getting rid of what you really don’t need or want anymore, and digitizing everything else can go a long way toward a clutter-free home where you can really relax and feel comfortable. It’s a great way to keep paper from piling up.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/08/the-best-ways-to-keep-paper-clutter-from-building-up/feed/2Moving Forward: How to Get Organized and Keep It That Wayhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/moving-forward-how-to-get-organized-and-keep-it-that-way/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/moving-forward-how-to-get-organized-and-keep-it-that-way/#commentsMon, 29 Jul 2019 23:00:48 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51549Getting organized is something most people want to do, but it always seems like life gets in the way. If you haven’t been organized in the past or you have a lot of clutter and stuff, getting organized can also seem like such a daunting task that you don’t even know where to start. Fortunately, there are some great ways to get started on organizing your home or office so you can make the space clutter free and then keep it that way much more easily.

It really is possible to have a clutter-free office or home, and once you go through the decluttering and organizing process, keeping it that way doesn’t take much time or effort. Here are some rules and tips to follow, in order to get your space cleaned up and cleaned out, along with ways to help you keep the space clean, clear, and looking great in the future.

1. Do a Full Declutter of the Space, Clearing Everything Out of It

When you’re ready to get (and stay) organized, start with one room. Take absolutely everything out of that room, and thoroughly clean the empty space. Wipe down the walls, wash the curtains, clean the blinds and the light fixture on the ceiling.

Replace any burned-out bulbs in that fixture, or change out current bulbs for brighter or dimmer ones you like better. Vacuum and shampoo the carpet, or sweep and mop the hard floor. Once the room is completely clean, it’s time to start putting things back into it.

2. Only Put Back the Things You Need, or That Bring You Happiness

As you put things into the room, consider then carefully. Ask yourself whether you need the item that’s going in there, or is it just taking up space. If you have a dresser in your bedroom that sits empty, or a filing cabinet in your office with the same problem, why are those pieces of furniture in the room? If you don’t need them, leave them out. A more minimalist space is far more organized and peaceful.

3. Place Everything Neatly the First Time, As You Put it Back

Putting things back should be based on having everything in its place, instead of just getting it back into the space. For example, not only should you take care to only put back what you need, but you should also put things back right where they go, the first time you return them to the room. That way you don’t have to change anything later, because you’ve already got everything where it belongs.

4. Keep an Inventory of Where Everything Is, So You Know Where Everything Goes

When you bring home a new book, decide to create a new photo album, or buy something that really makes you happy, where are you going to put that new thing? The best place for it is with others of its kind, so you know where to find it when you want or need it. By having an inventory of what’s in the room, you can make sure you know what you have all the time so you can add to or remove things from your house in an organized manner.

5. Be Conscious of Everything You Bring Into Your Space After Decluttering

Decluttering your space is only the first step toward being organized, especially if you want to maintain that organization indefinitely. When you see something you want to bring home, or even something you want to move into that room from another location in your home or office, make sure you know why you’re doing it and what purpose it will serve. Then you can make the right choice and continue to stay organized even if you decide to add items or change things.

6. Form Habits That Will Keep Your Space Clean and Clutter Free

Changing the habits that caused your home or office to become cluttered in the first place is a big part of keeping that space free of clutter in the future. If you don’t work to form new habits, you could end up cluttering up the space again over time. By putting things away when you’re done with them, making sure everything has its place, and spending a few minutes in the morning or before bed making sure everything’s decluttered and straightened up, you can keep a clutter-free space much more easily. That will help you have more enjoyment of your space, and can also give you more time for other pursuits.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/moving-forward-how-to-get-organized-and-keep-it-that-way/feed/3Dealing With Paper Clutter: What to Save and to Throw Away?https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/dealing-with-paper-clutter-what-to-save-and-to-throw-away/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/dealing-with-paper-clutter-what-to-save-and-to-throw-away/#respondWed, 24 Jul 2019 23:00:18 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51565Managing a business or working from home means you probably have to deal with a lot of paperwork and paper clutter. One of the best ways to reduce this clutter is to go digital whenever possible.

1. Do You Need to Scan All of Your Documents?

Scanning all of your previous documents can be time-consuming. Whether you want to do that depends on your business. If you need a consolidated method of managing your files, there are some advantages to scanning documents. For one, documents that are scanned in can be read through OCR, which means they’ll be searchable and easily archived.

However, if you don’t need to scan all your previous documents, you can instead start processing documents that come in. Choose a date: after that date, documents that come in will be digitized rather than kept in paper.

2. Talk to Your Business Partners, Clients, and Colleagues

Make sure that everyone around you knows that you’re transitioning to digital and would prefer digital documents rather than paper clutter. Switch over any account statements, such as bank accounts and bills, to paperless billing rather than mailed, paper billing. Both of these things will reduce the amount of paper that’s coming in.

Ideally, you should have all documents coming to you digitally, through email and through your document management system. Paper documents can be archived or scanned depending on their importance.

3. Go Through Your Existing Paper Clutter

Your existing paper is still going to need to be organized. Sort through the clutter that you have and categorize them. Important client documents, invoices, proposals, contracts, brochures, and more can be categorized. Anything that isn’t particularly important can be thrown away. Anything that is no longer current or relevant can also be tossed.

Originals, anything with signatures, and so forth can be kept in a special folder. And again, you may find that digitizing everything that you have, to create a single consolidated location for everything you need.

4. Create an “In” Tray

An in-tray can store your paper documents until you’re able to digitize them. While you may make as much as you can digital, it’s likely you’ll still get paper documents in. This will let you reduce your clutter until you can get around to digitizing.

Clear out your in-tray once a day or once a week, to reduce the chances you could fall behind. The longer your documents linger, the more likely it is that something important could get missed.

5. Invest in the Right Technology

There are many apps and software solutions that offer digitization. Some of them just create an image of the file. Others go farther, with character recognition, automatic categorizing, and tagging. It depends on the amount of data you’re regularly processing.

If you need to process large volumes of data, you may want to invest in a more robust software solution. Automatically categorized and tagged documents will be easier to go through.

6. Get the Rest of Your Company On-Board

Digitizing all the files in your company is an excellent way to improve productivity and efficiency. If you’re already going through these steps on your own, there’s no reason you can’t pitch it to the rest of your business. If everyone is using a single, consolidated document management solution, then they’ll be able to reference and archive the same digital files.

Digitizing isn’t just good for clutter: it’s good for the environment. By trading digital files rather than paper files, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of paper waste around your office. The greater the level of adoption, the more green your business will be. For more information about office organisation, both for home offices and offices at work, follow Get Organized Wizard.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/dealing-with-paper-clutter-what-to-save-and-to-throw-away/feed/0How to Organize A Small Home Office Space With a Lot of Stuff – Without Spending Moneyhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/how-to-organize-a-small-home-office-space-with-a-lot-of-stuff-without-spending-money/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/how-to-organize-a-small-home-office-space-with-a-lot-of-stuff-without-spending-money/#respondSun, 21 Jul 2019 21:30:03 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51555If you have a lot of stuff in your small home office, you don’t have to let it be cluttered and stressful. You can get things organized and have them looking neat and orderly, even if you don’t have a lot — or really any — money to spend on organizing solutions. The only things you really need to spend are time and effort.

You won’t be organized overnight, especially if you have a lot of stuff you have to look through and decide where to put or what to do with. But you can get everything done if you’re patient and keep working on it. Here’s what you need to know, to accomplish your organizational and decluttering goals.

1. Start With One Spot at a Time

You probably have several pieces of furniture in your small home office. For example, you might have a desk, a filing cabinet, a bookshelf, and other items in there. No matter what you have, you need to focus on one thing at a time. Pick a piece of furniture to organize first, and take everything off of and out of that item.

Then go through everything you took out/off of that piece of furniture. You’ll need piles for things you’re keeping, things you’re donating, and things you’re throwing away. Anything that you’re going to put in another room or area of your house should get moved to that area, so it doesn’t accumulate in the office. By moving it right away, or after each piece of furniture you go through, you’ll reduce clutter and not add to it with another pile to deal with later.

Take that same approach with each furniture item you have in your home office, so you can get through each one separately. That can reduce how overwhelmed you feel, since you’ll only be tackling one item at a time. The only thing that will grow are the piles, since you’ll be adding to the donate and throw away piles with each piece of furniture you go through.

You can let those piles build and then remove them when you’ve gone through everything, or you can take the donate and throw away items out of the office each time you finish a piece of furniture. Either way works, as long as you take all the unneeded and unwanted items out of your office. The only things that should remain when you’re done are the pieces of furniture and items you intend to keep.

2. It’s Time to Put Things Away Again

The keep pile (or piles, if you have one for each piece of furniture you went through) has to be gone through, as well. Make sure everything there is really needed or wanted in the space. Then it’s time to determine where each and every one of the items you’ve decided to keep needs to go. An organized system is the best choice. You can come up with a system that works for you, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. For example, you don’t have buy a label maker, when a marker and tape will work.

Using what you have is a great way to organize your home office without spending a cent. All it takes you is a little bit of time and effort, coupled with some ingenuity to create a system or organization that’s going to help you find the things you need the next time you need them. That system, along with a lower level of items from the decluttering process, means you’ll have a minimized, stress-free space to work and enjoy.

If you really decide you need to buy something to make your organization level even better, try checking at garage sales and second-hand stores. There are a lot of people who donate these kinds of items or who want to sell them, and you can pick them up for next to nothing. That’s not entirely as good as free, but it’s close. It’s important to remember that you don’t really have to spend money to get organized, and if you want to spend money you can do so without having to spend a lot.

What a great feeling when your home office is finally organized the way you want it to be, and you can find everything you need in the space without stress or problems. It can be so frustrating not to be able to find what you need when you need it, but a little bit of time and effort can solve that problem for you.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/how-to-organize-a-small-home-office-space-with-a-lot-of-stuff-without-spending-money/feed/0Decluttering and Organizing Your Home Office to Inspire Productivityhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/decluttering-and-organizing-your-home-office-to-inspire-productivity/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/decluttering-and-organizing-your-home-office-to-inspire-productivity/#respondThu, 18 Jul 2019 22:00:26 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51575If your home office has started to feel cluttered, you may find it difficult to get work done. Clutter is a productivity killer: you’ll find yourself spending more time trying to find things than to actually do your job. Working from home can already be distracting.

Here are some tips for organizing your home office so you can be productive again:

1. Invest in Drawers and Filing Systems

Clutter will start rising up if you don’t have a place to put your things. Invest in drawers and filing systems so you have a place for everything that you regularly use. A few items that can help include:

Hanging folders within drawers. Hanging folders still make it easy to access your documents, while keeping them well-organized by category or by year.

Binders. If you have large numbers of related documents, consider binding them up. That way you’ll be able to keep them in a single, consolidated place.

Filing cabinets. A good filing cabinet can hold pretty much everything you need. Consider a rotating cabinet if you’re low on space.

Shelves. If you have items that need to be set aside but can’t be filed, shelves can help. Hanging shelves take up little to no space and are easily accessible.

You can’t be organized if you don’t have the right tools. Investing a little in your office can make it a much more pleasant place to be.

2. Get Yourself a Better Desk

If your desk has limited space and limited storage, it may be your desk itself that’s a problem. Measure out your space and find a desk that will fit comfortably there, while also providing you with the largest amount of drawers, shelves, and more. Many modern desks also offer cord management tools, which can help you organize your electronics.

3. Digitize as Much as Possible

You may not need all of those paper documents. Consider digitizing your documents and keeping them organized on your computer, rather than in and around your desk. There are new apps that let you scan documents with your smartphone rather than having a dedicated scanner. Just make sure that any documents with private or confidential data are properly password protected and encrypted.

4. Create a Schedule for Cleaning Your Office

Most offices don’t become cluttered overnight. Instead, the clutter builds up over time. You need to clean your home office regularly like any other room in your home, rather than once every once in a while.

On your calendar, select a day for cleaning your office. Once a month is a good schedule to be on. It’ll keep your office from getting too cluttered between cleanings, and give you the opportunity to get rid of anything that’s no longer needed.

5. Make Organizing and Decluttering a Relaxing Occasion

Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, turn on some music, and pull everything out of your office. Organize and declutter at a relaxed pace as you can make decluttering enjoyable. Decluttering is a great time: you can review the work from the month, find anything that needs to still be completed, and overall improve upon your organisation.

6. Throw Away Anything You Don’t Need

The best way to remove clutter is to throw it out. While there may be some things you just can’t get rid of, often there are things that you no longer use. You don’t need three staplers, ten notebooks, and a whole stack of miscellaneous paperwork. Throw away (recycle or donate) things that you don’t need and you’ll have far fewer items to organize.

By decluttering and organizing your office, you can improve your productivity and that gives you some extra time to make sure that your office remains well-organized, too.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/decluttering-and-organizing-your-home-office-to-inspire-productivity/feed/0How to Keep Things You Need Within Reach but Still Keep the Workspace Clearhttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/how-to-keep-things-you-need-within-reach-but-still-keep-the-workspace-clear/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/how-to-keep-things-you-need-within-reach-but-still-keep-the-workspace-clear/#commentsTue, 16 Jul 2019 06:16:52 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51558You organize your desk, but it keeps getting messy. You just have a lot of things that you need nearby — and they’re always going to end up pulled out. Organisation isn’t just about keeping everything tucked away: it’s also about keeping the things that you need accessible.

1. The Importance of a Clean and Tidy Office

Whether you have a home office or a desk at work, it’s better to keep things tidy and organized. An organized office is a productive office: you’ll be able to find everything you need close at hand, and you’ll feel less stressed at work. Studies have shown that being surrounded by clutter can naturally decrease your mood and increase your frustration levels.

But tidiness can’t get in the way of your efficiency. If you’re constantly tucking everything away, you’re also going to be constantly looking for things and pulling them out. You need a system for organizing things while still keeping your workspace clear.

2. Begin By Assessing Your Workstation

Is your desk large enough for all the items you need? At minimum, many people need their monitor, keyboard, mouse, and phone. You may also need a journal, schedule, or printer. Your desk space has to have enough room to comfortably work with all these things — and it should be ergonomic.

If you find yourself constantly battling clutter, it could just be that you don’t have enough space for the things that you need. It’s time to upgrade to a larger desk. Desks with internal shelving or a desk with a “hutch” can add a lot of additional organizational space.

3. Get Built-In Storage and Additional Shelving

Drawers and shelving are critical for keeping yourself organized. Don’t underestimate the power of a few well-placed shelves, or a desk that has enough drawers in which to store everything you need. If you have a desk that doesn’t include drawers, that could be part of your problem.

As mentioned, many desks sold have a separate hutch that goes with them. If you have the space, a hutch can solve many of your organizational problems. Just make sure that you keep the hutch itself well-organized. Schedule some time at the beginning or end of every month to go through the far reaches of your desk to find anything that may have been set aside.

4. Organize Your Items By the Frequency You Use Them

If you’re not sure where to put things, consider how frequently you use them:

Daily. These items should have a position on your desk, but they still need to be organized. Consider using desk caddies and inbox trays to organize these items.

Weekly. These items should be close at hand, but put away. Place anything you need on a weekly basis in your desk drawers, so they can be pulled out when you need them.

Monthly or rarely. These items don’t necessarily need to go in your desk: they can go in a file cabinet close to your desk, instead, to save on space.

By organizing your items in this way, you can keep down the clutter.

5. Make it a Habit to “Setup” and “Tear Down”

At the beginning of your day, pull out everything you need from your drawers. At the end of your day, put everything back in its place. When you’re inundated with work, it can become a habit to just leave things out. But by developing the right habits, you can reduce the overall clutter: instead of having a week’s worth of things on your desk, you’ll just have the stuff from that day.

Keeping your office well-organized is the first step to making sure you improve your productivity and your mood. If you find yourself struggling with keeping your workplace clear, it may be time to invest in a different workspace entirely. For more information about general organisation and decluttering, follow Get Organized Wizard.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/how-to-keep-things-you-need-within-reach-but-still-keep-the-workspace-clear/feed/1My House Is So Cluttered I Don’t Know Where to Starthttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/my-house-is-so-cluttered-i-dont-know-where-to-start/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/my-house-is-so-cluttered-i-dont-know-where-to-start/#commentsTue, 09 Jul 2019 07:30:31 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51429Sometimes, the house just gets away from you. It can start with a small pile of stuff in the corner, and then spread like a plague throughout the entire household. Where do you even get started when everything needs to get done?

Anything Can Be Accomplished in Simple Steps

First: breathe. Even the worst of messes can be cleaned step-by-step. Don’t get bogged down wondering “where you should get started.” The important thing is to get started to begin with. As messy as your house is now, there have been houses that were messier, and there are ways that you can get out from under the pile.

Deciding Where You Want to Start

Do you want to start in the hardest area of your home? Or do you want to get started with something simple and manageable? It all depends on your own unique cleaning style. You need to select a starting point that’s going to be rewarding to you.

Here are some common methods of starting on a large cleaning project:

Hardest tasks first. Some people want to deal with the most difficult task first. After the most difficult task, everything else is much easier. Other people can’t deal with difficult tasks first: they need to work up to it. Hard tasks may include going through the entire home to throw items out, boxing up items to go into storage, or deep-cleaning the kitchen.

Easiest tasks first. Sometimes, it’s easier to ramp up to the hard stuff with some of the easier tasks. Taking out the trash, doing the laundry, or washing the dishes can make you feel accomplished, and make it possible for you to move on to more intensive tasks. If there’s something that will only take five to ten minutes, just do it now.

Tackling the smallest area. Maybe your home office has been driving you crazy. Maybe it’s your laundry room. Completing a small, contained room can help you take control without having to complete the entirety of your house. Often, it gives you more of a sense of satisfaction to have a single area completely clean, than every area a little clean.

Tackling the common areas. Are you feeling discouraged because you can’t invite guests over? Consider tackling the common areas such as the entryway and the living room first, and leaving more private areas such as bedrooms for later. You can focus on the living area or the dining area; when your home looks presentation-worthy, it may be less discouraging.

Everyone is different. Some of these strategies may sound great to you. Others may sound horrible. But what’s important is that you choose one and you stick to it.

Getting Started With Your Decluttering Process

You know where to get started, but the process itself may still feel overwhelming. How can you tackle a project that extends throughout your entire home? Here are a few important tips for decluttering without losing your sanity.

Start in small bursts. Clean an hour at a time, so you remain energized throughout. Otherwise, you could find yourself losing interest in cleaning, and the quality of your cleaning and organization could decrease.

Reward yourself for cleaning. After you finish cleaning, reward yourself with something you enjoy, such as watching a favorite show, or going out to eat.

Set aside an entire day. Even if you don’t clean throughout the entire day, you at least won’t feel pressured to rush through cleaning to accomplish other things.

Recruit help from others. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from other members of your family, or even call in a professional for a one-time deep cleaning. There’s no shame in needing some help.

Get rid of as many of your items as possible. Decluttering isn’t possible if there are a large amount of extraneous things around. Try to get rid of as much as possible during your initial stages of decluttering. It will make the entire process much easier.

Consider long-term organization. Don’t just put things away. Think about the long-term organizational strategy for your home. You want to place things where they belong, not just tuck things in closets for further exploration.

Once you’ve chosen where to start, it’s really just a matter of getting started. You can do it! And remember: the fewer items you have available, the fewer items you have to declutter.

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/my-house-is-so-cluttered-i-dont-know-where-to-start/feed/1Do I Need a Life Coach?https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/do-i-need-a-life-coach/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/do-i-need-a-life-coach/#respondThu, 04 Jul 2019 02:00:41 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51506A life coach can be a wonderful resource to help you become the person you want to be. If you’re looking for a personal one-on-one approach, then I would suggest finding a life coach in your area.

How to Find a Life Coach

You could browse Facebook for ideas, talk to your Doctor for suggestions, or ask friends who might have access to someone who can help you.

You can also reach out to an online coach if you don’t need face-to-face counsel. I think it really comes down to finding someone you connect with, who helps you move forward.

Online Life Coach Advice

Our programs and worksheets offer online support, no calls or face-to-face meetings. Our founder, Michele, is a qualified life coach with a degree in psychology. There are three core strategies Michele works on when people come to her for life skills advice. These three key strategies are:

Establishing routines

Identifying Priorities

Setting Goals.

Our blogs are full of free tips and advice on these areas. For example:

Programs To Help You Take Action and Move Forward

Our paid programs have been designed to help you take action and move forward. You are given step-by-step advice on how to identify your priorities & stop procrastinating and what action you need to take to find success. One these programs would be suitable for you:

]]>https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/do-i-need-a-life-coach/feed/0A Simple House Cleaning Routinehttps://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/a-simple-house-cleaning-routine/
https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2019/07/a-simple-house-cleaning-routine/#respondSun, 30 Jun 2019 22:00:07 +0000https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/?p=51482Are you ready to whip your house into shape? It’s time to break out the mop and dust rags and get to work. Here’s a simple-to-follow cleaning guide you can follow to get your home looking better than ever before.

1. Vacuuming

Start by vacuuming the carpets throughout your home. Make sure to move any rugs and vacuum under them as well. Once you’re done with the carpeted areas, move onto to any hardwood floors. You’ll need a vacuum that works well on hardwood flooring. If the vacuum has a small hose, use it to suck up dust in hard to reach places where the vacuum won’t fit.

2. Mopping

Once you put the vacuum up, you can break out the mop. Always use cleaner that is appropriate for whatever type of flooring you have.

3. Dusting

Dusting is one of those tasks that no one likes to do. You should dust at least once a week, and it’s important to remove all the clutter when dusting to ensure you get in all of those nooks and crannies. Don’t forget the blades on the fans and the top of window sills. If you dread having to move around a bunch of decorations to dust, consider minimizing the decorations.

4. Cleaning the Bathroom

Start with the toilet. Once you have it cleaned, move to the shower and tub and then to the sink. Dust the frame of the bathroom mirror and use window cleaner to wipe away any smudges and toothpaste on the mirror.

5. Cleaning the Kitchen

Start with the refrigerator by wiping it down and then move onto the cabinets. You can then wipe down the kitchen sink and faucet followed by putting the dishwasher in self-cleaning mode. Once a month, go through the refrigerator and remove any unwanted foods and beverages. Do the same with the kitchen pantry and the items inside any cabinets.

6. Garden Maintenance

Are you ready to perform some garden maintenance? Start by watering all of the plants and flowers. It’s usually best to water flowering beds once or twice a week. Make sure water plants during the early morning or evening hours as this is when the soil is cooler and less of the water will evaporate since it’s not so hot outside.

When you’re watering the plants, avoid watering the leaves or any of the plant heads; this is to ensure you avoid mould formation. If you aren’t home enough to keep the garden watered like it needs to be, consider installing an irrigation system.

As far as the lawn, avoid cutting the grass too short, especially during hot weather. You don’t want the heat from the sun scorching the soil. It’s usually best to water the lawn from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. You can use a water control system to water your lawn.

Always do a lot of pulling weeds. There are lots of lawn care products you can use to reduce the amount of time you have to spend pulling weeds.

7. Create a Cleaning Schedule

One of the easiest ways to keep your home clean is to avoid cleaning it all at once. Instead, do different types of cleaning each day. You can break your chores down into dail tasks or multiple times a week. You can also do a Week 1 and Week 2 cleaning schedule like the foolwing:

If you have a calendar, make sure to work the tasks into your daily schedule in a reasonable manner; this way, you don’t try to do too much in one day. Depending on how quickly you want to get your house clean, you might want to do all of the tasks over one or two days (in this case get the family to help out), or you might just need a routine to keep the house clean consistently. In that case, you could do the 2 week routine mentioned above, so something is always getting cleaned each week.